The center, who played for Maccabi for a season and a half, was released Saturday from the team. He is expected to play in Russia.
By Amy Samin
Esteban Batista, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s center for the last year and a half, has been released from the team.
In his time with the team, he reached the finals of the Euroleague Championship (last season).
Batista was expected to leave Israel on Saturday, and it is thought he will play for a team in Russia.
This season, Batista contributed an average 3.6 points in Euroleague games and 2.6 rebounds in five games.
Maccabi returned to Israel from France on Friday after Thursday night’s important victory over Le Mans in Week 8 of Euroleague play.
The team is preparing for Monday night’s game against Nahariya in Ein Sarah.
The game starts at 18:30 and will be broadcast live on Channel 1.
After that game, the team will be on break until 4 January 2009, when the quarter final games of the Israeli Cup will take place (assuming Maccabi wins on Monday night and advances to that level).
Four days later, Maccabi will host Olympiacos (including former Maccabi teammates Yotam Halperin and Nikola Vujcic) in Week 9 of the Euroleague season.
